The director general for Quebec's provincial police, Mario Laprise, is leaving his post.

Labour Minister Lise Thériault announced the change at a news conference this afternoon, and laid out a new process to select future heads of the Sûreté du Québec.

Thériault said it was Laprise's decision to step down for a new role with Hydro-Québec.

“I can only salute the work he did and wish him the best of luck in his new role,” said Thériault.

That work included a routine check into the books that resulted in four former high-ranking members of the force — including Laprise's predecessor, Richard Deschênes — charged with fraud-related offences.

He worked for the SQ for 26 years before leaving the force to head up Hydro-Québec's industrial security team in 2005. He headed Operation Carcajou, a joint squad of SQ, RCMP and Montreal police officers created in 1995 and tasked with cracking down on biker gangs.

New committee

Thériault also announced the creation of a new committee to select the next director general for the SQ, a position usually appointed by the provincial government.

The minister said the new committee will be made up of four people with expertise in police operations and the justice system.